Reports a study of year-nine students' understanding of concepts related to acids and alkalis using collaborative concept mapping. (MKR)

Discusses students' understanding of the qualitative conservation of matter and how this understanding is influenced by previous instruction in chemistry and task variables. Results show the influence of group membership, task content, and problem context on students' performance. (ZWH)

Provides a historical account of some of the explanations that were posed to describe the behavior of gases. Emphases are placed on gas theories presented by John Dalton. (ZWH)

Describes a study that examined student (n=100) understanding of five chemistry concepts: (1) chemical change; (2) dissolution; (3) conservation of atoms; (4) periodicity; and (5) phase changes. Conclusions included that the use of particulate terms increased across grade levels and reasoning ability is a significant factor for student…

Presents ways to use ChiaPets to link biology-related topics such as taxonomy, morphology, ethnobotany, economic botany, hydroponics, salinity, photomorphogenesis, and phototropism with food and fertilizer chemistry, mathematics, art, and history. (MKR)

Compares the effects of using two- and three-dimensional model representations of molecular structures on student learning of organic chemical structures. Reports that students using both three-dimensional computer models and ball-and-stick models scored higher on the three-dimensional retention test of isomeric identification but lower on a…

Analyzes students' attempts to answer examination questions involving stoichiometry and chemical equilibrium and reports that the majority of the students do not fully understand either concept. Concludes that the main difficulty with these topics is that they are highly abstract and first taught to students before they have reached the stage of…

Summarizes a 10-year Chinese secondary school chemistry teaching experiment, programmed elicitation, which was found to be more effective than traditional Chinese elicitation. Includes sample programmed elicitation textbook section and lesson. (Author/MKR)

Surveys of chemistry concepts taught in (n=51) schools identified 132 concepts and the relative importance placed on each concept in the science program. Contains survey results for each concept. (Author/MKR)

Presents a demonstration used to give meaning to the terms node, amplitude, wavelength, and quantization. (JRH)

The Examination where the Student Asks the Questions is a system-oriented teaching/evaluation strategy initially implemented in freshman chemistry which includes a prearranged oral examination whereby the course professor is examined by students using home-prepared, written questions. (11 references) (Author/MKR)

Describes introducing students to the chemical elements through the use of Tom Lehrer's recording of "The Elements" and through the use of the game "20 questions." By asking the teacher questions about an unknown element or compound, students are given opportunities to develop and practice analyzing, synthesizing, and…

Examines contributions of the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) to science education through partnerships with schools. Describes several CMA endorsed science programs. (LZ)

This article describes some typical 90-minute lessons in biology and chemistry designed for use with block scheduling. The lessons illustrate the benefits of block scheduling to science instruction. Contains an example of one day's block scheduling of science and mathematics courses. (LZ)